I've seen a vision of the game as a good thing. Harder to blindly work towards an unknown imo. :P

What you describe sounds like a multiplayer match in the Total War series with fog-of-war, much less boots on the ground and bigger maps. Not that it wouldn't be fun, but that's not real-time strategy. Even then, would you call the cavalry zerg of the entire series (except maybe Shogun) balanced?

The weakness of resource-based RTSes is the "age" or "advancement" system, and uber units awarded by progress. I'd prefer a map with wide open spaces and one "level" of technology. Each nation would develop itself with only minor skirmished until conflict for resources began, and then full-scale conflict could erupt. Akin to a Rise of Nations game played within one epoch, I suppose.

All right, though, I'll leave you guys to your work. :P